Tonight on All In with Chris Hayes: Pressure is mounting on Florida Governor Rick Scott to respond to protesters opposing “Stand Your Ground” laws as they occupy his office for the second straight day. The group of Trayvon Martin supporters are frustrated with the law allowing the use of force in self-defense which was considered by the jury that acquitted George Zimmerman. The protesters gathered at the capitol in Tallahassee intend to stay until Governor Scott agrees to meet with them and discuss repealing or amending “Stand Your Ground.” Philip Agnew, Executive Director of The Dream Defenders, the group organizing the Florida sit-in, and Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard, who sponsored legislation last year to repeal “Stand Your Ground,” will join Chris Hayes to discuss the consequences of the law. Senator Bullard is also leading the charge demanding a pardon of Marissa Alexander, a Florida woman sentenced to 20 years in jail for firing what she described as a warning shot during an argument with her abusive husband. A jury ruled against Alexander’s “Stand Your Ground” defense.
Plus: After weeks of protests and two special legislative sessions, a controversial bill restricting abortion became law in Texas Thursday. Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, will join the table to talk about what the law will mean for Texas women.
Chris Hayes will also delve into the latest from Thursday’s congressional hearings on the Voting Rights Act. All signs point to an ugly partisan fight ahead, with the issues of voter fraud and voter ID brought up again in testimony. Georgetown University Law School Professor Spencer Overton, who testified at the House Judiciary Committee meeting today, will join the discussion about the fate of the VRA.
Also Thursday, President Obama attempted to draw attention back to the Affordable Care Act, speaking about his landmark legislation from the White House. Ezra Klein, msnbc policy analyst and columnist for the Washington Post, will join the table to talk about the president’s push for public support and his recent article, “Obama’s last campaign: Inside the White House plan to sell Obamacare.” Kevin Nazemi, former director of health care at Microsoft, will also join Chris Hayes to discuss the health insurance company he has co-founded which aims to make health care costs transparent.
Rachel Simon
Rachel Simon is a writer and editor based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is the author of “Pickleball for All: Everything but the ‘Kitchen’ Sink.” Her work has been published in The New York Times, Glamour, Vulture, Teen Vogue and more. You can find her at @rsimon113. Recommended
